Violante stated, "To pay for the Bush Administration’s $1.7 trillion tax reduction plan, the majority leadership and Budget Committee Chairman in the United States House of Representatives are pushing a fiscal year 2004 budget resolution that would drastically slash veterans and other Federal programs. This budget resolution would require reductions in spending on discretionary programs such as veterans’ medical care and would also require the Veterans’ Affairs Committees to report legislation to eliminate or cut mandatory programs such as disability compensation."

DAV National Commander Edward R. Heath, Sr. expressed the organization’s outrage at the spending cuts proposed in a March 12 House Budget Committee hearing. "You are asking veterans to swallow a bitter pill to remedy an illness of your own making," National Commander Heath said in a letter to Committee Chairman Jim Nussle (R-Iowa). "Cutting already under funded veterans’ programs to offset the costs of tax cuts is indefensible and callous."

Heath cited a Congressional Budget Office report that the President’s tax cut plan would cause a $1.8 trillion budget deficit over the next 10 years.

"You will be cutting benefits and services for disabled veterans at a time when we have thousands of our servicemembers in harm’s way fighting terrorism around the world and when we are sending thousands more of our sons and daughters to fight a war against Iraq," Commander Heath stated.

The following is the body of a letter to Congress signed jointly by The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Disabled American Veterans on the resolution:

"As so many of our nation’s finest men and women are poised for possible war in the Persian Gulf region, fighting a global war on terror and defending our ideals at home and abroad, Congress is considering budget cuts that would deny sick and disabled veterans much-needed medical care and other earned benefits."

"The House budget resolution proposes reducing both mandatory and discretionary spending for veterans programs and services by $15 billion over the next 10 years. Especially appalling is a proposed 1 percent cut in mandatory spending, including veterans disability compensation and pensions, which is the main source of income for many veterans."

"We point out that the monthly compensation for 3.3 million veterans and survivors increased just 1.4% this year. That is the smallest cost-of-living adjustment in three years. Now, with soaring energy costs driving up prices for other goods and services, it is callous and indefensible to propose slashing these benefits."

"We recognize that our country has serious budget problems, but cutting already under funded veterans’ programs to offset the costs of tax cuts is indefensible and callous."

"Congress must rethink drastic cuts in benefits and services for disabled veterans at a time when we have thousands of our servicemembers in harm’s way fighting terrorism around the world and when we are sending thousands more of our sons and daughters to fight a war against Iraq."

According to the Vietnam Veterans of America what we need is a budget figure allocating for discretionary funding that is at least $31 billion, with $28.5 billion for medical operations for the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system. Not a budget resolution that decreases the amount even the President requested for the Department of Veterans Affairs FY04 budget.

Vietnam Veterans of America is requesting that you contact your House member today and strongly objected to the House Budget Committee FY04 resolution language of cutting mandatory and discretionary spending in the Department of Veterans Affairs FY04 Budget.

As for me I support the actions taken by the veterans organizations. I also ask everyone to call their Congress person to express an opinion.

For information on veterans benefits call the V.A. toll free 1-800-827-1000. Comments and ideas for columns may be sent to Veterans Corner; P.O. Box 202; East Berlin, Ct. 06023. If reply requested please send self addressed stamped business envelope. Home page http://vetcor.tripod.com/index.html